Knockdown cabinet structures



"Feb. 18, 1969 I F, SCOT 3,428,385

KNOCKDOWN CABINET STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 31, 1967 Sheet of 5 R l a i N 5 I INVENTOR. &; CHARLES F. 56077" BY R W fif Fig/ Feb. 18, 1969 C.F. SCOTT ,3

N INVENTOR CHARLES F 500 rr 0. "F. SCOTT KNOCKDOWN CABINET STRUCTURES Feb. 18,1969

Sheet fFiled Jan. 51, 19:1"

W 1mm INVENTOR. CHARLES F. 36077 Feb. 18, 1969 c. F. SCOTT 3,428,335

KNOCKDOWN CABINET STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 51, 19s? Sheet INVENTOR CHARLES F 56077 Feb- 18, 1969 C. F. SCOTT KNOCKDOWN CABINET STRUCTURES Sheet Filed Jan. 31, 1967 United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Knockdown cabinet structure embodying end frames with slide channels receiving side edges of bottom and rear panels and top channels receiving side edges of top panel to form rigid cabinet structure, said slide channels preferably being C-shaped in transverse cross-section and matingly receiving tongues along sides of said panels.

Background of the invention The knockdown cabinet structures of the present invention are particularly adapted for use in stores or other commercial enterprises wherein goods are stored and/0r displayed in .and/ or on such cabinet structures. The frame and panel components can be shipped in flat, knocked down condition to the store or other place of use, and quickly assembled on the site. This constitutes a considerable advantage in cost and ease of shipping.

Also, the cabinet structures are capable of being quickly knocked down or disassembled. For example, when a display cabinet is to be removed from the display area and stored until such time as it is again needed, the knockdown cabinets herein can be taken apart. The panel and frame components thereof can be stacked, and thus these components can be stored in a considerably small area than that required for a cabinet in assembled form. When the knocked down cabinet is ready for use again, it can be quickly reassembled.

Brief description of the invention The knockdown cabinet structures of the invention comprise open frames and top, rear, and bottom panels extending therebetween. The open frames comprise at least a first frame having a top, horizontal, elongated channel; a rear, vertical, elongated channel; and a bottom, horizontal, elongated channel, and a second frame horizontally spaced from the first frame with its channels respectively opposed to the aforementioned channels, i.e., a top horizontal elongated channel; a rear, vertical, elongated channel; and a bottom, horizontal, elongated channel.

The inner faces of each of the bottom and rear channels (and optionally the top channels) have opposing, elongated lips respective opposing pairs of which define an elongated slot in each inner face extending substantially the entire length of the respective channel. In transverse cross section, the channels have a C-configuration with the inner faces of the channels composing the open side of the C. The C-configuration preferably is formed by channel walls comprising a substantially planar horizontal elongated upper Wall and a similar lower wall connected by a substantially planar, vertical, rear Wall. The aforesaid lips on the inner face are narrow, vertical, substantially co-planar Walls with the aforesaid elongated slot defined between contiguous, spaced parallel edges thereof.

The rear and bottom panels (and optionally the top panel) have respective side edges thereof shaped to be tightly but slidably interfitted in the channels. The side edges of the top panel seat in the respective channels of the first frame and the second frame. The respective side edges of the rear panel are slidably interfitted in the respective rear channels of the first frame and the second frame. The side edges of the bottom panel are respectively slidably interfitted in the bottom channels of the first frame and second frame.

For interfit with the channels of the preferred C-configuration in transverse cross section, the side edges of the panels respectively comprise elongated tongues of substantially rectangular transverse cross section. Said cross section is of substantially mating dimensions with the open area defined by the upper, lower and rear walls of the channels. Oppositely disposed, elongated, outwardly facing grooves extend along respective bases of the tongues in opposite faces of the panels. These grooves slidably receive the lips of the respective channel members.

With the aforesaid substantially tight, mating, sliding interfit between the tongues of the rear and bottom panels (and optionally the top panel) in the respective channels of the aforesaid frames, a cabinet structure is provided wherein these parts constitute the essential framework for each basic unit of the cabinet structure. The assembly forms a hollow, rectangular structure having an open front, optionally closed by doors, which structure is rigid enough to eliminate the need for additional bracing or framing structure. The top and bottom panels fitted in the top and bottom channels of the frame members stabilize the cabinet structure against twisting in the horizontal plane while the rear panel with its tongues fitted in the rear channels of the frames stabilize the structure against twisting in the vertical plane.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is a cabinet structure characterized by openly interconnected, lower rear corners of said frames at the respective junctures of said rear channels and bottom channels, said lower rear corners having the rear edge of the side walls and lips thereon of the bottom channel terminating not more than co-extensive with the forwardmost side wall of said rear channel, the bottom end of said forwardmost side wall and lip thereon of said rear channel terminating not more than co-extensive with the upper most side wall of said bottom channel the rearward edge of said bottom panel being positioned in the lower end of said rear channels, and the lower edge of said rear panel resting on the said rearward edge of said bottom panel.

In another preferred form, the cabinet structure is further characterized by openly interconnected upper rear corners of said frames at the junctures of said rear channels and top channels, said upper rear corners having the rear edge of the respective lowermost side wall and the lip thereon of said top channel intersecting and substan tially abutting the top edge of the respective forwardmost side wall and lip thereon of said rear channel to form the respective inside corners of said upper rear corners of said frame, and the uppermost side wall of said top channel and the rearmost side wall of said rear channel intersecting to form the respective outside corners of said upper rear corners of said frames.

In another preferred form of the invention, the bottom and rear channels of the frames are C-channels as aforesaid. The top channel of each frame is either an L-channel or, more preferably, a .l-channel, wherein the side edges of the top panel fit between the outer, vertical legs of the L-channels or J-channels and the sides of the top panel rest on the horizontal legs of the respective channels. The J-channel provides a shorter, vertical leg, i.e., an elongated lip, which seats in an elongated groove provided in the undersurface along the side edges of the top panel.

The basic unit of the cabinet structure of the invention comprises only two open frames and panels interfitted in and extending between said frames. For cabinet structures comprising two or more basic units, the frame members comprise two end frames and one or more intermediate frames. The intermediate frame preferably comprises two frames identical or similar to the end frames and secured together in back-to-back relationship. The respective panels extend between an end frame and one side of the intermediate frame in a cabinet composed of two basic units and also between intermediate frames in a cabinet composed of three or more basic units. Thus, a single cabinet unit can be made with two or more series of panel members in substantially end-to-end relationship by the use of the intermediate frames.

The end frames and intermediate frames are open frames, and the open area of the end frames may be closed off by an end panel removably mounted in the end frames.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a front, perspective of an assembled cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of said cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a broken, side elevation of an end frame of said cabinet;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of said frame;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of an intermediate frame member;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a channel of a frame member with the tongued edge of a panel interfitted therein;

FIG. 7 is a broken, section through the assembled cabinet on section plane 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of cabinet structure of the invention, in which view the end frames are partially assembled with the bottom panel;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of said embodiment with the end frames and bottom and rear panels in assembled relationship and the top panel in exploded view;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the end frame of said embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a section view taken on section plane 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a section view taken on section plane 1212 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of the side edge of the top panel of the embodiment of FIGS. 8-13.

Description of the preferred embodiments The embodiment of FIGS. 1-7 comprises a knockdown cabinet 20. Its frame structure comprises end frames 21 and 22, which are open frames composed of a rear channel 23, a top channel 24, a bottom channel 25, and a bracing angle bar 26 extending between the front ends of the top and bottom channels 24 and 25. In the illustrated embodiment, the knockdown cabinet also has an intermediate frame member 30 which is composed of frame sections 31 and 32. Each of the sections 31 and 32 is the same as end frames 21 and 22, respectively. Frame sections 31 and 32 are secured together in back-to-back relationship. In structure, end frame 21 and frame section 32 are mirror images of end frame 22 and frame section 31.

The channels 23, 24 and 25 each respectively comprise a C-channel 35. The C-configuration of the C-channels 35 is formed by rear wall 43 and substantially planar, elongated, upper and lower walls 36 and 37, the inner edges of which respectively have narrow, vertical, substantially co-planar walls or lips 38 and 39. The side edges of the respective panels P have elongated tongues 40 of substantially rectangular transverse cross section, which cross section is of substantially mating dimensions with the open area defined by the upper wall 36, the rear wall 43, and the lower wall 37 of the channels. At the respective bases of the tongues 40, the panels have oppositely disposed, elongated, outwardly facing grooves 41 and 42 in opposite faces of said panels P, which grooves receive lips 38 and 39.

The cabinet is assembled by sliding tongues 40 into respective channels 35. For example, in the lefthand, basic unit of FIG. 2, the bottom panel 45 is mounted in the lower channel 25 of end frame 21 and the lower channel 25 of intermediate frame 30 by sliding the respective tongues 40 into said channels. Next, the tongues 40 of rear panel 46 are slidably inserted into rear channels 23 of end frame 21 and intermediate frame 30. The top panel 47 has its tongues 40 slidably mounted in the top channels 24 of end frame 21 and intermediate frame 30.

As shown in FIG. 7, the bottom edge of rear panel 46 rests on top of the rear edge of bottom panel 45. The rear edge of top panel 47 lays over the upper edge of rear panel 46.

For the righthand basic unit of FIG. 2, the bottom panel 48, rear panel 49, and top panel 50, are mounted similarly in the end frame 22 and theintermediate frame 30. When the panels are mounted, the assembly forms a rigid cabinet structure which does not require additional bracing or frame members.

The open sides of the end frames 21 and 22 may be filled in or covered by end panels and 56. These end panels may be mounted in any suitable fashion, i.e., by one or more pins 57 projecting from the bottom edges of panels 55 and 56 and one or more depressible, springloaded pins 58 projecting from the upper edges of the panels 55 and 56. The pins 57 and 58 are received in holes 59 in the respective upper and lower sides of the lower channel 25 and the upper channel 26.

If a door structure is desired on the front side of the' cabinet 20, the front edges of upper panels 47 and 50' may be provided with double tracks 60 and the front edges of lower panels 45 and 48 may be provided with opposing double tracks 61. Sliding doors 62 and 63 are slidably mounted in a known manner in the double tracks 60 and 61. v

The cabinet may be provided with legs or other suitable divider panels 74. The channels 71 may have elongated, planar side walls 75 and 76, or the walls may have transverse, opposing undulations or corrugations to form post. receiving sockets, as described in H. S. Peacock application Ser. No. 455,069, filed May 12, 1965.

The embodiment of FIGS. 8-13 is another preferred form of the invention. The knockdown cabinet comprises a base 80. The latter comprises a bottom panel 81 supported on plates similar to the plates 65-67 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7. The views in FIGS. 8 and 9 show the front kick plate 82 and a side plate 83. Other types of supports may be employed if desired.

By means later described, the bottom panel 81 and rear panel 86 are assembled with end frames 91. There: after top panel 87, optionally having a front rail 88, is mounted on this assembly to provide an enclosure having an open front. This front may be closed, if desired, by a door structure of any suitable type, e.g., the sliding door structure as shown in FIGS. 1-7. Side panels 84 and 85 may be provided in end frames 91, which comprise a rear C-channel 92, a bottom C-channel 94, a topchannel 91, and a three-sided, front channel 100.

The tongued side edges on the bottom panel 81 slida-v bly and matingly fit in the bottom channels 94 of the frames 91, the latter channels having a substantially C- shaped cross section (FIG. 11). The channels 94 are open at the respective rear sides thereof whereby the bottom channels 94 of the respective frames 91 may be slidably inserted over the tongued side edges 90 as shown in FIG. 8. The rear channel 92 is open at the top and may be closed or open at the bottom. The rear panel 86 has tongued side edges 89 which matingly and slidably fit in the C-channels 92. The rear panel 86 may project above the side panels 84 and 85 to provide a back rail, as is shown in FIG. 9.

The top channel 96 is substantially L-shaped, or, more preferably, J-shaped, in transverse cross section. The channel 96 thus comprises an elongated, outer leg 97, an elongated, bottom leg 98, and an elongated, inner, narrow lip 99.

The front edges of the top channel 96 and the bottom channel 94 are connected by a front channel 100. The latter is substantially J-shaped in transverse cross section (FIG. 12). This shape provides a longitudinal, inner leg 101 and a narrower, longitudinal, outer leg 102. The latter has a return bend 103. The bottom edges of legs 101 and 102. are connected by a longitudinal, cross leg 104.

The J-shaped channel 100 receives the front edge of the respective side panels 84 and 85. The respective rear edges thereof are held in place by the L-clips 105 having a hole 106 through which a screw may be inserted to attach the end panels 84 and 85 to the L-clips 105.

If desired, the top panel 87 may be mounted in C- channels substantially as shown in FIGS. 1-7. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 8-13, however, the top 'panel 87 is mounted by dropping it in the top channels 96. The side edges of the top panel 87 fit inside the outer legs 97 of the end frames 91. The undercut side edges 106 of the top panel 87 have a groove 107 which interlocks with the inner lip 99 of the top channel 96. Top panel 87 may merely rest on the top channels 96 or may be secured thereto by screws or the like (not shown).

The aforedescribed assembly provides an interfit of the respective end frames 91 and the bottom panel 81, rear panel 86, and top panel 87, which is rigid enough to eliminate the need for additional bracing to rigidify the cabinet structure. If desired, the frames, the same as or similar to end frames 91, may be mounted in back-to-back relationship to provide an intermediate or middle frame member with the back-to-back type of arrangement of the intermediate member 30 in FIG. 2, whereby longer cabinet structures comprising multiples of the aforedescribed basic unit of FIGS. 8-13 may be assembled.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A cabinet structure comprising a first, vertical frame having a rear, vertical, elongated C-channel and a bottom, horizontal elongated C-channel; a second, vertical frame horizontally spaced from said first frame and having respectively oppositely disposed to the aforementioned channels a rear, vertical, elongated C-c-hannel and a bottom, horizontal, elongated C-channel; the inner, opposing faces of said bottom and rear channels being the open side of the respective C-channel; a horizontal top panel; a vertical rear panel and a horizontal bottom panel; said bottom and rear panels having elongated, tongues along the respective side edges thereof, said tongues being shaped to slidably interfit in said C-channels, means supporting said top panel on said cabinet structure, and the bottom edge of said rear panel resting on the rear portion of said bottom panel to support said rear panel in its respective rear, vertical C-channels, thereby providing a combination of panels and frames which can be quickly assembled and disassembled.

2. A cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said C-channels comprise substantially planar, horizontal, elongated upper and lower walls of said channel connected by a substantially planar, vertical rear wall, opposing, elongated lips on said inner face, and an elongated slot defined between contiguous, spaced, edges thereof; said elongated tongues having substantially rectangular transverse cross-section of substantially mating dimensions with the open area defined by the upper, lower, and rear walls of said channels; said panels respectively having oppositely disposed, elongated, outwardly facing grooves extending along respective bases of said tongues in opposite faces of said panels; and said lips being; slidably received in respective grooves of said panels.

3. A.cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1, and further adapted to be quickly assembled or knocked down, said structure characterized by openly interconnected, lower rear corners of said frames at the respective junctures of said rear channels and bottom channels, said lower rear corners having the rear edge of said upper and lower walls and said lips of said bottom channel terminating not more than coextensive with the forwardmost side wall of said rear channel; the bottom end of said forwardmost side wall and lip thereon of said rear channel terminating not more than co-extensive with said upper wall of said bottom channel; the rearward edge of said bottom panel being positioned beneath the lower end of said rear channels; and the lower edge of said rear panel resting on the rearward edge of said bottom panel.

4. A cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1, said means supporting said top panel being a top, horizontal, elongated channel in each of said first and second frames, and further characterized by openly interconnected, upper, rear corners of said frames at the junctures of said rear channels and top channels, said top channel being a C-channel having the rear edge of its lower wall intersecting and substantially abutting the top edge of the respective forwardmost wall of said rear channel to form the respective inside corners of said upper rear corners of said frames, and the uppermost side wall of said top channel and the rearmost side wall of said rear channel intersecting to form the respective outside corners of said upper rear corners of said frames.

5. A cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1, said means supporting said top panel being a top, horizontal, elongated channel in each of said first and second frames, said top channels being channels of substantially J-shape transverse cross-section, said top channels thereby having an outer, elongated vertical leg and a narrower, inner, vertical lip, a narrow groove extending along the undersurface of said top panel adjacent each side edge of the top panel, and said lips being seated in said grooves.

6. A cabinet structure comprising a first, vertical frame having a top, horizontal, elongated channel, a rear, vertical, elongated C-channel, and a bottom, horizontal, elongated C-channel; a second, vertical frame horizontally spaced from said first frame and. having respectively oppositely disposed to the aforementioned channels a top, horizontal, elongated channel, a rear, vertical, elongated C-channel, and a bottom, horizontal, elongated C- channel; the inner, opposing faces of said bottom and rear channels being the open side of the respective C- channel; a horizontal top panel; a vertical rear panel and a horizontal bottom panel; said bottom and rear panels having elongated, tongues along the respective side edges thereof, said tongues being shaped to slidably interfit in said C-channels, and the side edges of said top panel being supported by said top channels; said top channels being channels of substantially J-shape transverse crosssection, said top channels thereby having an outer, elongated vertical leg and a narrower, inner, vertical lip, a narrow groove extending along the undersurface of said top panel adjacent each side edge of the top panel, and said lips being seated in said grooves.

7. A cabinet structure comprising at least two side-byside basic cabinet units, each unit characterized by frame and panel structure as claimed in claim 1, and frame members of contiguous units being secured together in back-to-back relationship to provide a unitary cabinet structure of at least two basic units.

8. A cabinet structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means supporting said top panel is a top, horizontal, elongated channel in each of said first and second frames, a vertical brace extending between the front edges of said top and bottom channels of at least one of said frames, said brace comprising a three-sided channel with the open side facing rearwardly, a side panel mounted in said one of said frames with its front edge received in said three-sided channel and slidable into and out of said open side, and means on said one of said frames detach ably connecting the rear edge of said side panel in said one of said frames.

9. A cabinet structure comprising a first, vertical frame having a top, horizontal, elongated frame member, a rear, vertical, elongated frame member and a bottom, horizontal, elongated frame member; a second vertical frame horizontally spaced from said first frame and having respectively oppositely disposed to the a forementioned frame members a top, horizontal, elongated frame member, a rear, vertical, elongated frame member and a bottom, horizontal, elongated frame member; a horizontal top panel extending between and supporting at its side edges by said top frame members; a vertical rear panel extending between and supported by said rear frame members; a horizontal bottom panel extending between and supported by said bottom frame members; a vertical brace extending between the front edges of said top and bottom chanels of at least one of said frames, said brace comprising a three-sided channel with the open side facing rearwardly, a side panel mounted in said one of said frames with its front edge received in said three-sided channel and slidable into and out of said open side, and means on :said one of said frames detachably connecting the rear edge of said side panel in said one of said frames.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,956,705 10/ 1960 Clingman 312257 2,966,385 12/1960 Murphy et a1 312257 3,150,903 9/1964 Chapman et al 3l2257 3,284,152 11/1966 Schfiirghuber 312257 3,353,888 11/1967 Pritelli 3l2257 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,456 5/1951 Germany.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 312-264 

